P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja

P. S. Kumaraswamy Raja
Chief Minister of Madras Presidency and Madras State
In office April 6, 1949 – April 10, 1952
Prime Minister	Jawaharlal Nehru
Governor	Krishna Kumarasingh Bhavasingh
Preceded by	O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar
Succeeded by	C. Rajagopalachari
Governor of Orissa
In office 1954–1956
Preceded by	Saiyid Fazl Ali
Succeeded by	Bhim Sen Sachar
Personal details
Born	1898 Rajapalayam, Madras Presidency
Died	1957
Nationality	Indian
Political party	Indian National Congress
Religion	Hindu

Poosapati Sanjeevi Kumarswamy Raja (Tamil: புசபதி குமாரசாமி ராஜா) (1898–1957) was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Madras Presidency), India from April 6, 1949 to April 10, 1952.^[1] He was born in Rajapalayam in Tamil Nadu.

Early life

He was born in Rajapalayam to Poosapati Sanjeevi Raja. His mother died when he was eight days old. He lost his father when he was three years old. Raja had no brothers and sisters and he was brought up by his grand mother. He belonged to the community of Rajas (Kshatriya Rajus), whose ancestors migrated from the Northern Circars in Andhra Pradesh in the late 15th Century CE.^[2]

After Schooling Raja was connected with the Congress organisation at its every level. He took a prominent part in Panchayat Organisations, Local Board administration He was President of Rajapalayam Union , Panchayat court,District Board of Ramnathapuram, District educational Council etc.

Political and Social Service

The lives and writings of Annie Besant and Satyamurthy had great influence on his mind and character in his formative years. It was in 1919 that he met Mahatma Gandhi for the first time and started following with great interest the events in Gandhi's life. Gandhi's epic struggle in South Africa, the founding of the Ashram in Ahmedabad and the Champaran struggle made a profound impression on him and the utter simplicity of Mahatma's life also evoked his unbounded admiration.

1932 He was arrested for disobeying the unjust laws. Thus Rajapalayam gained a distinct place in political map, the credit went to Raja's lead. In 1934 , Raja won central legislature for constituency comprising Tirunelveli, Madurai & Ramanathapuram. In 1936 he was M.L.A in C. Rajagopalachari ministry.

He was the Chief Minister of Tamil Nadu (Madras Presidency) from 1949 to 1952 and Governor of Orissa from 1954 to 1956.

In all the years of his life, most of Raja's wealth was spent in helping the poor and in serving public causes, particularly for the Congress movement.

Raja's life was one of noble activity, dedication and selfless service for the people of the country. He was a staunch proponent of the concept of "Separation of the Judiciary from the Executive". Prohibition, promotion of Khādī and Temple Entry Legislation were his other notable achievements. He donated his house for starting an institution of culture called "Gandhi Kalai Mandram". Rajapalayam became a great industrial centre mainly due to his drive and interest.

See also

• Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu

References

1. ^ Government of Tamil Nadu — Chief Ministers of Tamil Nadu since 1920
2. ^ Ancestors were Telugu kshatriya Rajus

Sources

• http://pib.nic.in/archieve/lreleng/l0799/r080799.html
• http://www.rediff.com/news/1998/mar/21karu.htm
• http://www.kamat.org/picture.asp?Name=c67.jpg
• http://www.hindu.com/thehindu/mp/2002/08/28/stories/2002082800200100.htm
• http://www.indiaeducation.ernet.in/insitutions/PROFILE.ASP?no=U00519
• http://www.hindu.com/mp/2007/02/12/stories/2007021201150500.htm

Preceded by O. P. Ramaswamy Reddiyar	Chief Minister of Madras Presidency 6 April 1949– 26 January 1950	Succeeded by Post Abolished
Preceded by Post created	Chief Minister of Madras State 26 January 1950– 10 April 1952	Succeeded by C. Rajagopalachari

Persondata
Name	Kumaraswamy Raja, P. S.
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1898
Place of birth	Rajapalayam, Madras Presidency
Date of death	1957
Place of death